OF THE MARINE ALG^!. 93 



tassels and soft flowing tresses which distinguish most of 

 me Ceramiacea3. So far, then, the study of aesthetics has a 

 claim upon the botanist ; only let him beware of allowing 

 it too far, by giving that a first ciaim on his attention which 

 should in fact be a mere means to an end. Besides, a 

 needy hungry-looking set of specimens always detracts from 

 the good appearance of an herbarium : it repels rather 

 than invites the attention ; whereas a rich series of well- 

 prepared examples awakens in the observer's mind an 

 agreeable feeling of the beauty and perfection of the works 

 of nature : it may be, even deeper and more lasting sensa- 

 tions — wonder, praise, and thankfulness to the great Creator. 

 Having * now divided the group of plants into fitting 

 portions, each tuft is to be laid separately on the edge of a 

 plate, not in the water, but just on the side, so that it may 

 imbibe a sufficiency of moisture during the ensuing opera- 

 tions without being actually immersed. Next, let a piece 

 of stout white writing or drawing paper, of a size corre- 

 sponding to the object under preparation, be pushed under 

 the water slowly and carefully, so as to prevent air-bubbles 

 from pressing on the lower surface, as they are very apt in 

 the subsequent treatment to cause an unequal expansion in 

 the paper, thereby raising folds and wrinkles. The paper 

 being ready to receive the Alga, the latter may be drawn 

 gently over it, with the root end towards the operator, the 

 stem and branches being kept from entanglement by means 

 of a smooth blunt needle (a broken ragged end to the 

 needle will do more harm than good, by tearing the delicate 

 filaments), due regard being had to their natural position 

 and the angle at which they ramified from each other 

 during life. As soon as the larger branches are laid in the 

 right direction, attention can be given to the minor branches, 

 or pinnules, the position of which is in a great measure 

 regulated by the way in which the paper is drawn out of 



* From this point the suggestions offered refer alike to freshly- 

 gathered Algae and to those which have been long dried. 



